It all began with a series of excitement—a bat that defied value and promised to enhance the game. Stars, freshly hyped, highlighted remarkable early-season numbers, making all think this was it. However, as the season continued, the question was asked: could this new bat really transform MLB? As it turns out, Aaron Judge continued to dominate without this, leaving fans to wonder related to the true power of the torpedo bat.
The torpedo bat’s rise to the spotlight came quickly. At the period of opening weekend, some MLB stars of the Yankees made this bat look like a game-transformer. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger, among others, delivered elite numbers and ignited thoughts that the bat could be the secret weapon. But, as time passed and the excitement died down, reality hit. This tool did not erase weaknesses in hitters’ mechanics—something the insider was quick to highlight. And when a vital MLB insider comes forward with a statement, it is worth paying attention. Jeff Passan’s blistering assumption on the trend and its implications has stirred the online world.
His take on the torpedo bat made it clear that the bat was not a magic wand. As the insider said, the bat could look flashy and promising; however, it could not cover up a star’s internal weaknesses. For stars like Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe, who went through issues to adapt to the trend after strong early showings, the weaknesses became obvious. As Jeff Passan highlighted, the design of the torpedo bat did little to fix their swings.
There was another story unfolding. Aaron Judge, the face of consistency, continued to climb eliteness without ever touching the torpedo bat. In fact, while multiple stars were caught up in the trend, Judge kept dominating with an old bat. This made Jeff Passan’s words more potent than true power does not come from gimmicks. Judge guides the Yankees in almost every vital offensive category with .412/.507/.728 and ranked second in RBIs with 29, second in runs with 28 and third in home runs. He is striking out in a career-low 20.6 percent of his plate appearances. The question now is whether the bat was ever more than a momentary flash of brilliance.
The torpedo bat debate
The Torpedo bat has definitely divided the MLB, with mixed reactions surfacing from stars and analysts alike. The Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been a vocal defender of this trend, taking to the online world to shut down critics who questioned its effectiveness. His fiery reaction to fans calling the trend a gimmick only added fuel to the fire. “For the idiots that say it is moved to the label, you are an idiot”, Chisholm said on X, providing an unapologetic defense of the Yankees utilization of the Torpedo bat.
However, just as quickly as the defenders of this arose, so did its critics, guided by none other than former Red Sox David Ortiz. In his Big Papi fashion, the star called out this for what he saw as a desperate approach to mask a star’s weaknesses. At the period of a segment analyzing the Torpedo bat, he bluntly said, “give me a toothpick and I will hit the motherf—r”, mocking the thought that the bat’s design could be the key to success. He was not impressed by the power-enhancing claims and said, “you still gotta hit the ball”.
Such a mixed bag of reactions highlights the underlying aspect of the debate: the Torpedo bat could provide an upper hand for some, however, its success is far from universal. Whether it is Chisholm’s defiant defense and David Ortiz’s skeptical critique, one aspect is clear that the Torpedo bat has sparked a debate that is far from over.
The post “Doesn’t Erase Weakness” – Aaron Judge’s Power Revives Torpedo Bats Hype as Top MLB Insider Drops Blistering Verdict appeared first on EssentiallySports.
